[Open!] - Memoirs of a Cassette...

[not_your_gun]

WHO: Magnum and !you!
WHAT: Megatron attempts to get used to being a cassetibird, even while vehemently denying his attempts to get used to anything impermanent.
WHERE: Zones 3-6. Flight patterns vary, and he's still crashing into things a lot.
WHEN: Now-ish
WARNINGS/NOTES: In waiting for his new body to be finished, Soundwave offered Megatron a

Comments

[greasemunkygal]

Mikaela was preoccupied lately - her most recent (and surprisingly fun) vacation to Iacon had taken up a lot of her mental space in the more recent days, but now that that's over she's back in the shop and working harder than ever.

It was busy today, as always, and by the time the doors closed and the last mech had left, Mikaela was exhausted. She was covered in grease, her hair tied back in a sloppy bun, although strands had worked themselves loose during the span of the day.

Rubbing her hands vacantly on her ruined jeans, she heaved the mech sized garage door shut, then flicked the human sized door lock and stomped up the stairs. Typical day, typical evening, she figured. Reclining on her bed, she rested her back against the wall with a content hum.

Wrong.

The crash she heard against the roof made her drop the cup of tea she'd made in her lap, and with a hiss of anger mixed with pain, she jerked up the gun she kept by her bed, and barged up the upper stairwell to the roof, cocking it with a click and a hiss.

"Who's there?"

[greasemunkygal]

Mikaela is patient during this process - she can sort of understand his hesitation, so she doesn't speak again and push at him about it. She figures that letting him make the decision was the best move, because even like this...he was still dangerous, and quite capable of either killing her or causing some serious harm.

"Y'don't know that until you try." She smiles faintly, then reaches to gently pull him into her lap when he steps within her arm span. "Won't tell anyone, promise."

[not_your_gun]

"...I only try because....it will not be long before this changes again." He starts to resist, pulling back for the slightest of moments...

...before he realizes its just going to knock him off balance, and folds his wings in close to just...sit. Legs tucked up, beak resting against her arm...surrounded by soft and warm and not too big but not too small.

...comforting, as he knows it's meant to be.

Because it's meant to be, he still resists, scoffing at the gesture, considering the next time he'll have the chance to flatten her, how much he could get this time if he handed her to Malus...

Until finally his optics dim, and he just starts to purr--a backwards sound, not unlike a videotape rewinding.

[greasemunkygal]

"All the more reason to indulge yourself, right?" She smiles, wrapping her arms oh so carefully around him and resting a hand lightly atop his head.

"See...it isn't so bad." Ignorant of his thought process about how she could still yet become his bartering tool again (though it has not and does not escape her on a normal basis), she just tugs him in close.

The purr is a...strange noise, and Mikaela is momentarily startled by it until she figures out exactly what it is. She smiles faintly to herself, running her fingers lightly across his head.

[not_your_gun]

"...do you like me better this way?" His head tilts, somewhat, looking up at her with a single optic on the side of his metal bird-head...realizing about the purr and grinding it to an unpleasant-sounding stop.

It should be a strange question, but it isn't. Its very, very telling.

[greasemunkygal]

The casual petting she'd been doing stops at his question, a brow lifting as she looks down to meet his birdy gaze and contemplates it. It takes her a moment to answer, but not too long to be negative.

"You're...easier to manage like this, that's true. But...this isn't you. So, no. I like you better the other way."

[not_your_gun]

"....that is a good answer, Mikaela." His optics stayed on hers...appreciating that. It could have been a lie, but he would not particularly have minded...because it had been said. It had been spoken, and there was a certain truth to things that had been said aloud no matter the intent.

Which...helped. He was relaxing, and he was calming down, and it was her fault but he had needed it. Today had been a...stressful...day. Tomorrow would be a stressful tomorrow. For right now...

"Do you mind if I stay here for a few cycles? I...do not feel like walking back yet."

[greasemunkygal]

Mikaela doesn't break the look. With Magnum, she's always felt it was important to keep her bearings and mind straight with him.

Of course, at times that was exceptionally difficult with Magnum.

"I'm glad you approve." She smiles dryly, shifting him in her lap just the slightest bit, inhaling and exhaling a sigh.

"Magnum...at this point, I think you should know that you're welcome here." He'd stayed here on numerous occasions, visited, even fixed her faulty door.

[not_your_gun]

"...the gesture is...appreciated." His optics dimmed further, and he let his head lean forward until it was resting against her chest, just...relaxing. It would not last, and he would not acknowledge this when it was over...

...but for right now, it was useful, and he would use the situation to his best advantage...

at least, until the shaking stopped.

[greasemunkygal]

"Mmm." Instead of responding with words, she simply lifts a hand to rest lightly in his back, fingers lightly and oh so carefully tracing little patterns.

Mikaela doesn't move except to lean against the back of the couch, and she's quiet and will continue to hold him until he squirms free, or...falls asleep.